Where oh where do I begin..... the race was home of USAT long distance nationals about 6 weeks before the race the Athena/Clydesdale were made aware they would have a competition also. So being I had been staying pretty active since my race in September was canceled in July. Yes, I had 6 staples in July too but hey I was doing lots of miles.

I spoke to my coach before I signed up and she thought I could rock it.... goodness.

I thought I might be ready. It seemed though everyone had more confidence than me. When I started getting confidence I got there and met Sugarloaf Mountain. In case you didn't know Sugarloaf is the highest point in the state of Florida, a lovely 10% grade. Wait, I am getting ahead of myself....

The swim, the full is 3 laps in a trapezoid shaped loop. The swim in Lake Minneola. Get out after each lap and head back out. The first cutoff is in the swim. Must be out of the water 2.5 hours. There is a little current headed out but then you get a little current heading back in. I am a slow swimmer and I made the cutoff. Plenty of water support in my opinion. Got out and headed to transition 1. The change tent was good enough. Thanks covid. Though not many tri athletes are modest. Just don't want to be penalized for nudity. (Oh and this was another race that is wetsuit legal lots of years but I again am jinxed and it was not wetsuit legal for us this year.)

Transition was good, full change and out on the bike. So back to Sugarloaf mountain. The full bike was 2 lake loops followed by 3 main loops (that means the hills x 3) the lake loop is fairly flat the main loop is not. I was told elevation gain around 6600. My watch registered 7000. The bike cut off was finish lap 2 by 4:30pm and bike course closes at 6:30. I cramped on lap 2 my bad lost a botle of nutrition and didn't supplement with additional salt. Hosed. I made it in lap 2 at 4:24. Went out for lap 3 and luckily lolololol, got to the top of Sugarloaf at 6:30. I rode just a bit more and called it. My legs were done. I made the decision to not run. Maybe I should have, but I turned my chip in and called it. They would have let me continue it was said we want you to succeed on whatever level you want to succeed.

I was sad. It was over looking back I probably should have opted for a shorter race. They have sprint, 1/3. 2/3 and full.

There was no expo, thanks covid.

I originally said no way would I come back. But I am not one to let a course win so I will probably be back, when. Not sure. Greatful to get a race in in 2020. Sad I didn't finish. Not many crowds - again thanks Covid. Good volunteers. Most of the cops were gone when I went back out for lap 3 - but all the volunteer aid stations were still open. Very grateful back of the packer for those!

Unable to rate expo as we came in after 5 on Saturday night so we got there early to pick up Sunday morning. The cop wouldn't let us thru to park in the free parking so we paid 5 bucks to park. Meh on that decision but would have been nice to know that the cops were going to cut us off at a certain time. But 5 bucks for decent parking wasn't upsetting. So we get our stuff then out the shirt back in the vehicle and head back to the start line. 1st mistake for me. I don't fit in women's cut shirts. I should have checked and got the guys. But alas my fault. So the line for the inside bathrooms was long went to porta potties not long line and then waited for the start. Chip timed with shoe chips. I am a slower runner course was marked ok but boring as heck. Lots of run to the cone or person and turn around. Boring boring boring course thru a warehouse parking lot even. Lots of hot space with no shade. No ice available and I didn't see any gu or food on course :( just water and Gatorade. Medal ok. Shirt will be donated because it doesn't fit. No food at the end. Got a water and headed home. Too bad because paid less for other races with better support for us slow runners.

This race. Fantastic race. No race expo to speak of. They do have an early packet pick up with when I went Friday night was no line. Walked right in picked up bib and safety pins was told where to park I the morning. The next morning we were told to be there before 7:20 as that was the time the last bus would leave. The only negative here was there were no signs as to where the buses would pick up for each race. With just over 800 people it would have been helpful to know that without having to ask people standing around. Then what could have pissed off a bunch of people the bus stopped at the back of the line and the people that had just showed up got on the bus first. We get to a small parking lot and with porta potties and a small tent with some sport beans, and gels and such. A few more buses show up and then a cop yells and says it is time to head to the start line. So we all go to the street and stand in the road. Second small complaint. No start line painted on the road. Small sign on the right and side of the road with the word start on it. That was it. It is not timing chipped just gun time but yeah a little more spray paint something would have been nice. The Path, some road, a lot of trail, while it is true it is mostly down hill as advertised there is some hills. Now the aid stations. A plus. Best I have seen, sports beans at most gels and blocks at all. Gatorade and water. The temp was perfect there were only 4, 3 miles, 6 miles, 9 miles and 12. But very well stocked for us slow runners and they were very good at cheering and such. Not to many cheering stations but really not bad for a small race. The end of the race. Plenty of beer, and relief only thing was the pint glasses but was offered an option of a previous glass without a year and that was what we accepted. Or we could have had one mailed. Beer and pizza again for us slower runners there was plenty. Fantastic job for a small town. I would totally do this race again. Last small complaint that I forgot. Some places it would have been nice to have a sign to tell us which way to go or that we were going the right way.

First of all I split the stay in Florida between 2 hotels. Not that I recommend that but it did provide a unique experience of rating both the race transportation provided by Disney and the traveling to the race by car.
Dopey is 4 races starting on Thursday ending on Sunday, 5K, 10K, half and then Full Marathon. One thing that I am not sure that you can prep for is the horrible angle of the roads for rain off. The cantor is something that by Marathon Sunday was feeling it.

This year the 1/2 was cancelled Friday night because of the possibility of lightening. I for one was very disappointed and while they didn't have to do anything they did offer a Disney refund it should be noted this is different than RunDisney refund.

I was not too tramatized to not sign up for Dopey 2018 - I will complete this challenge as scheduled though I did get my half in I want the entire experience before I check it off my bucket list.

Things that could make this a 5 star race.
- Allow for better/more cheering sections.
- Allow for the 5k shirt since it is different material be a different size without having to go thru the exchange process.
-Better advertising of the runDisney program - I found it but it was difficult - it has LOTS of good information make it easier to find and maybe people will follow some of the good advice.
-Parking access- the super long walk for the marathon was a surprise since the other 2 races I had that weekend were not as long of a walk. And sell some bagels closer to the start for that race :)
-The expo directions were not obvious for the signs for bib pick up and then expo - the line to get into the expo was long and there were lots of line jumpers- I didn't care that day but you know have better organization for that long line after all Disney is the pro with lines :)

I have run this race 2 years now. Same course both times. I will say good job on the intersections and telling us where to turn and such. Not the most beautiful course to run but well marked. Here is a warning this course has a 3 hour time limit - that is just under a 14 min/mile. It is doable and they will hold the timing line a little more than 3 hours but don't expect anything even if you finish at the 3 hour mark, there was maybe one photographer there, the pancake breakfast was packed up and there was a table of waters. I left with one person saying, "do you need anything?" The medal and the shirt look exactly the same, same white long sleeved shirt, same generic medal. I agree with other review, I have received nicer 5K medals.

Another complaint I have is there was no fuel on course except water and Powerade. I carry beans with me and maybe there was something for the earlier runners (I am a back of the pack girl - especially for a 3 hour limit course) there was nothing. Disappointing. Oh and make me laugh at having a spaghetti dinner in a smoker bar - my daughter loves the bar but it is not the place for a packet pick up.

BUT the benefit of this race - it isn't packed, it is well marked out. It is cheap. I probably won't run it again next year unless someone gifts me the run again. Two years is enough.